Latest in: green roofs.

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WGIN at Bled Strategic Forum 2021

02 SEPTEMBER 2021 BACKGROUND From year to year, we are facing stronger environmental changes. We are failing to meet the Paris 2°C target, sea levels are rising at an alarming rate, CO2 emissions remain at record levels. As more and more pressure arises to take action, we need to seek new, creative and bold solutions. What is the next step towards »Green Recovery«? Alongside environmental challenges, the past year has challenged humanity with the covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic brought rise to a variety of challenges, human wellbeing being one of them. From lock-down to lock-down, most of humanity saw the importance of social interactions affecting our society and individuals’ mental health. Yet from all of the challenges, human wellbeing remains the most understated. Have we foreseen the next step for »Human Recovery« as well? We have long known that solving complex problems requires an interdisciplinary approach, that bringing people from various fields together can yield great results and that times of crises also give rise to new opportunities for change. The New European Bauhaus is a creative and interdisciplinary movement in the making, which is fast gaining momentum. It is a platform for experimentation, bringing together citizens, experts, businesses, and Institutions that want to design our future ways of living together. There are many correlations between mental health, wellbeing and nature. Looking at the future and the steps that we as leaders, companies and individuals must take, let’s ask ourselves if helping nature and driving »Green Recovery«, will also help us thrive as humans. Sustainability is not only about helping nature to heal, it is also about creating a thriving environment for humans in the long run. How can we make the European Green Deal tangible? How do we ensure that changes are inclusive? Do the challenges which arose because of the COVID-19 pandemic also offer opportunities for a new approach? How can collaboration between sectors and industries boost the implementation of the Green Deal? AGENDA Dr Saša Bavec, Member of Executive Committee, Knauf Insulation Group Ms Saša Božič, Founder and CEO, Sophia Academy Mr Manfred Köhler, President, World Green Infrastructure Ms Ruth Reichstein, The New European Bauhaus Initiative, Advisory Board to the President, European Commission Mr David Thomson, Vice President, TFG Hotel Management Company Ms Anja Zorko, Head, Center for Creativity, Museum of Architecture and Design Ms Urška Zupanec, Head of Unit for the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council 2021 program, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of Slovenia Moderated by Mr Gregor Benčina, President, Center for Energy Efficient Solutions (CER) VIEW RECORDING More information: https://bledstrategicforum.org/programme/

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EU chapter

In the press | Rainwater as a resource in the city

Blue-green infrastructure are key to help adapt urban rainwater management to climate change, reports Tagesspiegel Background (Germany). In Germany and the EU, experts are calling for more commitment to adapting urban rainwater management to climate change. The focus is on new concepts such as a blue-green infrastructure and the networking of storage measures. Luigi Petito, Head of the European Chapter of the World Green Infrastructure Network, was asked by Tagesspiegel about the benefits of green infrastructure for urban water management and the latest policy developments at EU level. “A lot is happening right now, but there is still a lack of mandatory regulations for blue-green infrastructure in cities,” Petito said, pointing in particular at the upcoming revision of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). “Germany has played a pioneering role in the implementation of blue-green implementation of blue-green pilot projects in cities, but also in the development of technical solutions”, he added. Such examples could serve as a model throughout Europe. Read the full article (German)

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Latest News

Living architecture monitor: Summer Edition

Summer 2021: The Climate Issue While the Climate Crisis clearly threatens us, it also provides a powerful motivation to fight it by embracing rapid change. Much of this change is already taking the form of new and positive policy developments, exciting design opportunities, and supportive research profiled in this issue. Our challenge over the next decade is to help accelerate the rate of change, implement high-quality living architecture, and emphasize what can be achieved in this, the fight of our lives. Read the Summer issue here.

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EU chapter

Have Your Say: European Commission Consults on New Stormwater Policies

Oblique lid of a well after thunder shower. ID: 697109167 April 2021 was the wettest and coldest April on record, yet summer in Europe could not have had a better start for green infrastructure. Let’s find out why. In the Summer edition of Living Architecture Monitor (LAM), Head of EU World Green Infrastructure Network Luigi Petito, writes about the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) that was developed 30 years ago to ensure clean and safe urban wastewater in European cities. The full article is available here. The LAM magazine is a quarterly publication first published in 1998.  It features in-depth interviews with leaders in the green building movement, opinions, research, and green roof and wall project profiles. Living architecture is the integration of living, organic systems with non-living, inorganic systems in, on, or around buildings. Living architecture is an important step to reconcile people and nature in the modern built environment.

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Latest News

Launch of Sempergreen white paper: ‘Building for Biodiversity’

How can green roofs contribute to promoting biodiversity in urban areas? WGIN member Sempergreen developed a white paper ‘Building for biodiversity’, which answers this question and aims to raise awareness among architects, property developers, governments, and other parties involved in the construction and refurbishment of buildings. Hot topic Biodiversity is becoming a hot topic both in the industrial and political arena, as shown by the EU new Climate Adaptation Strategy and the European Parliament’s recent resolution on the EU biodiversity Strategy for 2030. And rightly so: biodiversity loss will have, and is already having, a devastating impact on both people and planet. Thankfully, we as humans can do something about it. Urbanisation being among the main causes of biodiversity loss across Europe, greening cities is the next logical step. Indeed, as recently recognised by the European Parliament, “green urban areas and green infrastructure can provide ecosystem services to support biodiversity and contribute to the physical and mental well-being of the population”. WGIN, Sempergreen and biodiversity In the new EU Climate Adaption Strategy, a novel focus is put on promoting green roofs and walls as ‘no-regret’ solutions to make urban infrastructure more climate-proof. As member of the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN), Sempergreen is actively advocating for increasing green infrastructure in the EU to create a more sustainable society. In addition to this white paper, Sempergreen Trade’s director Stephan Beerends was part of one of the panels of the European Green Infrastructure Day 2021, where he contributed to an illuminating discussion about biodiversity and urban development. You can download the white paper here. All images © Sempergreen

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EU chapter

In the press | Jure Šumi: “Green infrastructure bring life to cities”

Azotea del Instituto Nacional de Biologia, en Liubliana, capital de Eslovenia. © DANILO BEVK In an interview to top-ranking Spanish media outlet El Pais, Jure Sumi, president of the Slovenian Green Infrastructure Association and Representative of the WGIN European Business Group presented the multiple benefits of nature in cities. “The holistic benefits that urban green infrastructure is bringing to cities are relatively little known”, Jure Sumi told El Pais, “People, and even city officials, are not aware of all the positive effects of nature. The benefits go beyond the aesthetic. Green infrastructure brings life to cities, reduces overheating in city centres, manages stormwater and removes dangerous dust particles from the air…. If buildings are designed correctly, green roofs on top can be additional amenity spaces for residents to enjoy nature at home.” “Not understanding all the benefits brings us to the second challenge”, he explained, “Adding green infrastructure is costly. As the benefits are not yet recognised, investors are not willing to pay much more for ‘green buildings’ as they are not sure how to sell the benefit to potential buyers. They see green infrastructure more as an additional cost than as an opportunity to increase the value of the building. I firmly believe that this is our task, to convince national and municipal governments, as well as investors and residents, to understand the benefits of green infrastructure. In the end everyone wins: municipality, investor, resident and, above all, nature.” Read the full article (in Spanish): https://elpais.com/elpais/2021/06/14/seres_urbanos/1623663219_703877.html

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Latest News

Nature within cities and cities within nature

30 JUNE 2021 BACKGROUND You are cordially invited to a high-level event, co-organized by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Portuguese EU Presidency, aiming at demonstrate the value of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for cities, from developing climate resilient pathways to harnessing a broad range of environmental and socio-economic benefits. The event will highlight local participatory approaches as bases for long-term success, look at ways to scale impact with innovative approaches and call for genuine action across differentscales and sectors. The event will focus on exploring the multiple benefits of NbS for cities, highlighting opportunities and challenges to advance and scale up NbS, from local action to global solutions, accelerating impact in 2021 and beyond. The event starts with a high-level panel (16:00 – 16:30 CEST) which will discuss how the application of NbS can provide long-term social, ecological and economic benefits. The second session (16:30 – 17:30 CEST) features two technical panels with a focus on implementation challenges and opportunities as well as models for scaling up NbS from local action to global solutions. AGENDA Opening Remarks H.E. João Pedro MATOS FERNANDES, Portuguese Minister for the Environment Inger ANDERSEN, Executive Director, UNEP Multiple Benefits of NbS H.E. Ana ABRUNHOSA, Portuguese Minister of Territorial Cohesion H.E. Svenja SCHLUZE, German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (Video) H.E. Andrej VIZJAK, Slovenian Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning (Video) Opportunities and Challenges to Advance NbS Philippe TULKENS, acting Head of Unit, DG Research & Innovation, Healthy Planet Directorate, European Commission Ana DAAM, Head of Division of Sustainable Finance and Adaptation, Portuguese Environment Agency Rosário OLIVEIRA, Researcher, Institute of Social Sciences (ICS), University of Lisbon From Local Action to Global Solutions: Models for Scaling up NbS Duarte D´ARAÚJO, Landscape Architect, Lisbon Municipality Angela CRUZ GUIRAO, Director of Green and Sustainable Development, Campinas City Hall Q&A session Wrap up by Moderators Susana NETO (University of Lisbon) and Catarina ROSETA-PALMA (ISCTE-IUL)

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EU chapter

European Green Infrastructure Day 2021

Policymakers, experts and representatives of national associations and green infrastructure industry discussed the state of affairs of urban green infrastructure in the European Union in a unique policy conference. Urban green infrastructure, such as vegetated roofs and walls, can greatly support green economic recovery and Europe’s transition to a more sustainable and resilient society. This clearly emerged from the insightful discussions of the first European Green Infrastructure Day, hosted by the EU Chapter of the World Green Infrastructure Network throughout 27 May 2021.  The panels focused on urban biodiversity, green and efficient buildings, financing green infrastructure, exchanging best green roofs practices across Europe, green infrastructure and climate adaptation, and how to build more sustainable, healthier and human-centred cities.  Among the speakers were:  View the full programme here.You can watch the event recordings below and on our YouTube channel.  recordings:

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Latest News

15-16 JUNE : Register now for GRHC’s First Virtual Grey to Green!

In light of COVID-19, Grey to Green 2021 will take place on a virtual platform on June 15th and June 16th. EXCITING SPEAKERS Get inspired by professionals working to create greener and more resilient communities post-COVID19. Designers, researchers and policymakers will come together to share their work in Biophilic Design, Integrated Stormwater Management Practices, Urban Agriculture, Green Roof and Green Wall Best Practices & more! GET CONNECTED Just because we are virtual does not mean we have to miss out on networking! Grey to Green 2021 will engage you in the discussion and help you connect with other passionate professionals.  Connect one-on-one with speakers or in break-out rooms to help solve urban challenges! GET INSPIRED Most importantly, let’s get inspired. Grey to Green 2021 is all about hope and giving you the tools and connections to build a better tomorrow.  We can’t wait to see you! Continuing Education: Grey to Green Virtual will be pending approval for various Continuing Education Credits following agenda selection. As always, the Grey to Green Conferences and Events are approved for Green Roof Professional credits. Continuing Education: Approved for 12.5 APLD CEUs, 13 ASLA CEUs, 13.5 AIA CEUs and 13.5 GRP CEUs. To learn more, check out the conference website: https://greytogreenconference.org/

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Latest News

11 MAY: GRHC’s Urban Food Production Virtual Symposium!

A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all been affected tremendously. With this, people are beginning to look for innovative solutions that will allow them to bounce back. Urban agriculture has grown rapidly in popularity and is quickly being understood as a resilient solution to COVID19. Urban agriculture helps support strong local economies and brings communities back together again, two things that are vital in COVID19 recovery. Not only will urban agriculture be an effective solution with COVID19, but it also provides many other benefits.           When you think of urban agriculture you probably think about urban space for food production, especially for fruits and vegetables. But, there are other viable types of production that you can get involved in, including microgreens, mushrooms, and edible insects! As well, urban agriculture has more capabilities than food production! It supports local economies, creates jobs, improves food access, and provides ecosystem services. On May 11th, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is hosting the Urban Food Production Virtual Symposium. The agenda will provide managers, researchers, and urban planners with an understanding of this burgeoning industry and tools to adopt these practices. GRHC brings together early adopters and pioneers so we can understand their successes and losses. Approved for 3.75 APLD CEUs, 3.75 ASLA CEUs, 4 GRP CEUs and 3 AIA CEUs. Admission: $50 USD To learn more and register for the event: https://greenroofs.org/virtualevents/2021/5/11/urban-food-production-virtual-symposium

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